18
“I told you that you were a fool,” remarked Miss Surcer slowly and coldly, “coming here as if you were the Head Inspector and trying to get the best of me.
“We are on equal terms now. You frightened me, but I knew I was a cleverer woman than you. I knew that in the end, if I kept on long enough, I should find your weakness and win.
“Now it will be my turn,” she concluded.
I was dumbfounded, and overcome with a miserable sense of the truth of Miss Surcer’s words. There was nothing for me to do except stand still. My colossal foolishness swept through me like a flood. I felt almost ashamed. But even at this juncture, I had no fear. I faced the woman bravely, my mind leaping about in search of some plan.
She had thrown away my sonicpistol instead of using it, so I doubted she had any training on how to fight. However, there was so much stuff in this small room, I did not want to hand-to-hand combat her. I could think of nothing but a bribe—an enormous bribe.
“I admit you’ve won,” I said, “but I’ve not finished yet. Just listen.”
Miss Surcer folded her arms and glanced at the door, smiling bitterly.
“You know my father is a millionaire,” I continued. “Perhaps you have heard that he is one of the richest men on the planet. If I give you my word of honor not to reveal anything that you’ve told me, how much would you want to let me go free?”
“What sum do you suggest?” asked Miss Surcer carelessly.
“Two ten-million-notes,” I said promptly. I had begun to regard the affair as a business transaction.
Miss Surcer’s lip curled.
“Twenty ten-million-notes,” I said, raising the amount.
Again, Miss Surcer’s lip curled.
“Well, say fifty. I can rely on my father, and so may you.”
“You think you are worth fifty ten-million-notes to him?”
“I do,” I replied.
“And you think we could trust you to see that we were paid?”
“Of course you could,” I began to realize this was not perhaps going to be easier than fighting.
“And how can you guarantee we would not suffer afterward in any way?”
“I would give you my word and my father’s word.”
“Bah!” exclaimed Miss Surcer: “You have no way of assuring me that I wouldn’t be letting you go free for nothing. You are only a rash, silly girl.”
“I know you wouldn’t. I can read your face too well.” I pushed a table out of the way and prepared to fight.
“You are right,” Miss Surcer replied slowly. “I wouldn’t let you go for all the money on the planet.”
A draught of cold air from the broken window blew on my cheek. I felt the door behind me open, but I did not turn in time. Everything went black, and I slipped limply to the ground.
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